Image sensor unit, and image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

An image sensor unit includes: a light guide reflecting light rays entering through a first light entering surface and a second light entering surface provided at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates an original; a first light source provided near the first light entering surface; a second light source provided near the second light entering surface and different in wavelength from the first light source; and a first reflection part and a second reflection part provided on the reflection surface and composed of dot patterns constituted of two kinds of dots different in spectral reflectance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-106432, filed on May 11, 2011, and the Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-087401, filed on Apr. 6, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image sensor unit, and an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the image sensor unit. The present invention particularly relates to an image sensor unit enabling light rays from a plurality of light sources to exit from a light guide, and an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the image sensor unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, there is a need to enhance the color reproducibility of an umber U-base color being an intermediate color between red R and green G in the result of reading by an image sensor unit used for an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus. In such a case, the color reproducibility of the intermediate color can be enhanced by adding a light emitting element emitting a light ray with an emission wavelength corresponding to the intermediate color whose color reproducibility is desired to be enhanced.

Further, there is an original to be read by the image sensor unit which is printed with invisible ink for the purpose of security, and there is a need to also read an ultraviolet wavelength region and a near-infrared wavelength region which are wavelength regions outside the visible region. In such a case, the original printed with the invisible ink can be read by adding light emitting elements emitting light rays with emission wavelengths in the ultraviolet wavelength region and the near-infrared wavelength region as in the above-described method of enhancing the color reproducibility of the intermediate color.

However, when the light emitting elements emitting the light rays with desired emission wavelengths are increased in number, the area of the light entering surface of the light guide needs to be increased for allowing the light rays from all of the light emitting elements to enter through the light entering surface of the light guide. The increase in the area of the light entering surface inevitably leads to an increase in size of the cross-sectional shape of the light guide, bringing about a problem in which the formation of the light guide becomes difficult as well as the light guide and the image sensor unit themselves increase in size.

Thus, a method of providing LEDs at both ends of the light guide so as to increase the total light amount is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.     9-214675

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Here, an example of the arrangement of a light source 100 and a light guide 110 will be described referring to FIG. 12A. FIG. 12A is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of the light source 100 and the light guide 110. The light source 100 is for illuminating an original. The light source 100 is composed of, for example, light emitting elements 100 r, 100 g, 100 b emitting light rays with emission wavelengths of red R, green G, blue B. The light guide 110 is formed of a transparent member having a length corresponding to the width of the original that is an object to be illuminated. The light guide 110 has one end surface being a light entering surface 110 a allowing the light rays from the light emitting elements 100 r, 100 g, 100 b to enter. In other words, the light emitting elements 100 r, 100 g, 100 b are arranged at positions facing the light entering surface 110 a. Further, one surface in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 110 (a lower surface of the light guide 110) is a main reflection surface 110 b reflecting the light ray entering through the light entering surface 110 a inside the light guide 110. Further, the surface opposite to the reflection surface 110 b is a light exiting surface 110 c through which the light ray reflected from the reflection surface 110 b exits.

The light ray exiting through the light exiting surface 110 c illuminates the original. The reflection surface 110 b is formed with a reflection part 120 so that the light ray exiting through the light exiting surface 110 c exits at this time uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 110. In more particular, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, a dot pattern (light diffusion pattern) made by applying dots 120 a which have a distribution density increasing from the light entering surface 110 a side toward the opposing surface 110 d side opposite thereto, is formed as the reflection part 120. This dot pattern is formed by applying a white paint in dots.

FIG. 12B is a graph indicating the position in the longitudinal direction of the reflection surface 110 b on the horizontal axis and the distribution density of the dots 120 a formed on the reflection surface 110 b on the vertical axis. As illustrated in FIG. 12B, the distribution density of the dots 120 a increases toward the opposing surface 110 d opposite to the light entering surface 110 a. Forming the reflection part 120 composed of such a dot pattern on the reflection surface 110 b enables light rays to exit uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 110 by the reflection surface 110 b irrespective of the distance from the light emitting elements 110 r, 110 g, 110 b.

If the light emitting elements emitting light rays with the desired wavelengths are increased in number here, the area of the light entering surface 110 a needs to be increased in order to make the light rays from all of the light emitting elements enter through the light entering surface 110 a.

Hence, it is conceivable to arrange the light emitting elements with the above-described desired emission wavelengths on a surface, as a light entering surface 110 e, opposite to the light entering surface 110 a where the light emitting elements 100 r, 100 g, 100 b are arranged as in the light guide 110 illustrated in FIG. 13A. In FIG. 13A, a light emitting element 100 u of umber U, a light emitting element 100 ir of near-infrared IR and a light emitting element 100 uv of ultraviolet UV are arranged in a manner to face the light entering surface 110 e.

However, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 13A, the reflection part 120 composed of the dot pattern in which the distribution density of the dots 120 a increases from the light entering surface 110 a side toward the light entering surface 110 e side is formed on the reflection surface 110 b of the light guide 110. Therefore, the light rays from the light emitting elements 100 r, 100 g, 100 b entering through the light entering surface 110 a uniformly exit through the light exiting surface 110 c by the reflection part 120 as illustrated in FIG. 13B.

On the other hand, the light rays from the added light emitting elements 100 u, 100 ir, 100 uv entering through the light entering surface 110 e are large in amount in exiting on the light entering surface 110 e side where the distribution density of the dots 120 a is high, and are small in amount in exiting on the light entering surface 110 a side where the distribution density of the dots 120 a is low.

This causes a problem in which the illuminance of light rays exiting from the light guide 110 becomes non-uniform.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems and an object thereof is to provide an image sensor unit which makes it possible to increase the number of light emitting elements emitting light rays with desired emission wavelengths without increasing the size of a light guide and to make uniform the illuminance of light rays exiting from the light guide toward an illuminated object, and an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the image sensor unit.

The image sensor unit of the present invention is an image sensor unit including: a light guide reflecting light rays from a first light source and a second light source arranged near light entering surfaces at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates an illuminated object; an imaging element forming an image of a reflection light ray from the illuminated object; and a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receiving the reflection light ray whose image is formed by the imaging element is mounted, wherein the first light source is composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the second light source is a light source different in emission wavelength from the first light source and composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the reflection surface provided at a surface opposing the light exiting surface is provided with a first reflection part and a second reflection part, wherein the first reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in the first light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to the first light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which the first light source is arranged, and wherein the second reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in the second light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to the second light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which the second light source is arranged.

The image reading apparatus of the present invention is an image reading apparatus including: an image sensor unit; and an image reading section for reading a reflection light ray from an illuminated object while relatively moving the image sensor unit and the illuminated object, wherein the image sensor unit includes: a light guide reflecting light rays from a first light source and a second light source arranged near light entering surfaces at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates the illuminated object; an imaging element forming an image of a reflection light ray from the illuminated object; and a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receiving the reflection light ray whose image is formed by the imaging element is mounted, wherein the first light source is composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the second light source is a light source different in emission wavelength from the first light source and composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the reflection surface provided at a surface opposing the light exiting surface is provided with a first reflection part and a second reflection part, wherein the first reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in the first light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to the first light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which the first light source is arranged, and wherein the second reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in the second light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to the second light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which the second light source is arranged.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including: an image sensor unit; an image reading section for reading a reflection light ray from an illuminated object while relatively moving the image sensor unit and the illuminated object; and an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the image sensor unit includes: a light guide reflecting light rays from a first light source and a second light source arranged near light entering surfaces at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates the illuminated object; an imaging element forming an image of a reflection light ray from the illuminated object; and a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receiving the reflection light ray whose image is formed by the imaging element is mounted, wherein the first light source is composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the second light source is a light source different in emission wavelength from the first light source and composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the reflection surface provided at a surface opposing the light exiting surface is provided with a first reflection part and a second reflection part, wherein the first reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in the first light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to the first light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which the first light source is arranged, and wherein the second reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in the second light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to the second light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which the second light source is arranged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a light guide 31 of this embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a graph indicating the relative relation between the wavelengths of a light emitting element 34 b and a light emitting element 34 r;

FIG. 3 is a graph indicating the characteristics of the spectral reflectances of dots 37 a, 37 b of this embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a reflection part 35 of this embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a graph indicating the distribution densities of the dots 37 a, 37 b of this embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state that a plurality of light emitting elements arranged near each of a first light entering surface 31 a and a second light entering surface 31 e of this embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a graph indicating the relative relation among the wavelengths of light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g, 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of another reflection part 40 of this embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an MFP 1 of this embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of an image forming section P;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration inside an image sensor unit 7 of this embodiment;

FIG. 12A is a perspective view illustrating an example of a light source 100 and a light guide 110;

FIG. 12B is a graph indicating the distribution density of dots 120 a;

FIG. 13A is a view of the light guide 110 when both ends thereof are light entering surfaces 110 a, 110 e; and

FIG. 13B is a graph indicating the illuminance on the original surface when the original is illuminated by the light guide 110 illustrated in FIG. 13A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail referring to the drawings.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a so-called multifunctional printer (MFP) to which the present invention is applicable.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a numeral 1 denotes the MFP which includes an image reading section S as an image reading means for reading a reflection light ray from an original 2 as an illuminated object, and an image forming section P as an image forming means for forming (printing) the image of the original 2 on a sheet 3 (recording paper) as a recording medium.

The image reading section S has a function of a so-called image scanner and is configured, for example, as follows.

The image reading section S includes a casing 4, a platen glass 5 composed of a transparent plate made of glass as an original placing unit, and a platen cover 6 provided to freely open and close with respect to the casing 4 to be able to cover the original 2.

Further, an image sensor unit 7 is housed inside the casing 4. The image sensor unit 7 is, for example, a contact image sensor (CIS) unit.

A numeral 8 denotes a holding member which holds the image sensor unit 7 in a manner to surround the image sensor unit 7. A numeral 9 denotes an image sensor unit slide shaft provided to be able to move the holding member 8 along the platen glass 5. A numeral 10 denotes an image sensor unit drive motor. A numeral 11 denotes a wire attached to the holding member 8. A numeral 12 denotes a signal processing unit. A numeral 13 denotes a collection unit provided to freely open and close for collecting a printed sheet 3. A numeral 14 denotes a paper feed tray housing the sheet 3 in a predetermined size.

With this configuration, the image sensor unit drive motor 10 mechanically moves the wire 11 to move the image sensor unit 7 in a reading direction (sub-scan direction) along the image sensor unit slide shaft 9. The image sensor unit 7 moved in the reading direction optically reads the original 2 placed on the platen glass 5 and converts it into an image signal (electric signal).

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of the image forming section P.

The image forming section P has a function of a so-called printer and is configured, for example, as follows.

The image forming section P is housed in the casing 4 and includes conveyor rolls 20 and a recording head 21 as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The numeral 21 denotes the recording head which is composed of ink tanks 22 r, 22 g, 22 b, 22 k storing ink of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, black K and discharge heads 23 r, 23 g, 23 b, 23 k provided at the ink tanks 22 respectively.

A numeral 24 is a recording head slide shaft. A numeral 25 is a recording head drive motor. A numeral 26 is a belt attached to the recording head 21.

With this configuration, the sheet 3 fed from the paper feed tray 14 is conveyed by the conveyer rolls 20 to a recording position.

The recording head 21 performs printing on the sheet 3 based on an image signal while moving in a printing direction (main-scan direction) along the recording head slide shaft 24 by mechanically moving the belt 26 using the recording head drive motor 25.

After repeating the above-described operation until the end of printing, the printed sheet 3 is ejected by the conveyer rolls 20 to the collection unit 13.

Note that though the image forming apparatus by the ink-jet method has been described as the image forming section P, any method such as an electrophotographic method, a thermal transfer method, a dot impact method may be employable.

Next, the relation between the components in the image sensor unit 7 and the optical path from a light source 30 will be described referring to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration inside the image sensor unit 7. Inside the image sensor unit 7, the light source 30, a light guide 31, a rod lens array 32, and a sensor substrate 33 are arranged.

The light source 30 is for illuminating the original 2, and has light emitting elements 34 r, 34 g, 34 b emitting, for example, light rays with emission wavelengths of red R, green G, blue B, and a light emitting element 34 u emitting, for example, a light ray with an emission wavelength of umber U. More specifically, the light emitting element 34 u emitting the light ray with the emission wavelength of umber U is added to increase the color reproducibility of an umber-base color in the image sensor unit 7 of this embodiment. The light emitting elements 34 r, 34 g, 34 b, 34 u are arranged separately at both ends of the light guide 31. In particular, the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 u are arranged as a first light source 30 a near the end portion on one side of the light guide 31, and the light emitting elements 34 b, 34 g are arranged as a second light source 30 b near the end portion on the other side of the light guide 31. The light source 30 radiates light rays by driving the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 g, 34 b, 34 u to sequentially turn on.

The light guide 31 is for guiding the light rays radiated from the first light source 30 a and the second light source 30 b to the original 2 placed on the above-described platen glass 5, and is formed in an elongated shape having a length corresponding to the width of the original 2. The light guide 31 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin material such as, for example, acrylic resin or polycarbonate.

In this embodiment, an end surface at one of both ends in the longitudinal direction (main-scan direction) of the light guide 31 is formed as a first light entering surface 31 a which the light rays from the first light source 30 a enter, and the other end surface opposite thereto is formed as a second light entering surface 31 e which the light rays from the second light source 30 b enter. The above-described light emitting elements 34 r, 34 u are arranged to face the first light entering surface 31 a and separate from the first light entering surface 31 a at a predetermined distance. Further, the above-described light emitting elements 34 g, 34 b are arranged to face the second light entering surface 31 e and separate from the second light entering surface 31 e at a predetermined distance. The end surfaces of the light guide 31 are formed as the first light entering surface 31 a and the second light entering surface 31 e, thereby eliminating the necessity of increasing the area of the end surfaces of the light guide 31 even if the light emitting element 34 u is added.

Further, the surface of the light guide 31 along the longitudinal direction and opposing the original 2 on the platen glass 5 is a light exiting surface 31 c from which the light ray entering the light guide 31 exits. Further, the surface of the light guide 31 opposing the light exiting surface 31 c is a reflection surface 31 b reflecting, inside the light guide 31, the light rays through the first light entering surface 31 a and the second light entering surface 31 e.

The reflection surface 31 b is provided with a first reflection part 35 a and a second reflection part 35 b as a reflection part 35.

Thus, the light guide 31 is formed to be able to uniformly reflect and diffuse the light rays from the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 u entering through the first light entering surface 31 a by the first reflection part 35 a and the light rays from the light emitting elements 34 g, 34 b entering through the second light entering surface 31 e by the second reflection part 35 b. The configuration of uniformly reflecting and diffusing the light rays from the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 g, 34 b, 34 u by the reflection surface 31 b will be described later.

Further, the other surfaces function as reflection surfaces.

The light guide 31 propagates the light rays entering through the first light entering surface 31 a and the second light entering surface 31 e through the light guide 31 while totally reflecting the light rays by the reflection surface 31 b and the other surfaces in the light guide 31. At the same time, the light rays are diffused and reflected by the first reflection part 35 a and the second reflection part 35 b provided on the reflection surface 31 b and exit through the light exiting surface 31 c to illuminate the original 2. The light source 30 and the light guide 31 function as an illumination device illuminating the original 2 as described above.

The rod lens array 32 as an imaging element is made by arranging a plurality of rod lenses of an erect equal magnification image forming type in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the light guide 31. The rod lens array 32 forms an image of the reflection light ray from the original 2 on a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 36. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 36 is made by arranging a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. Note that the imaging element is not limited to the rod lens array 32 and may be a micro lens array, for example.

The sensor substrate 33 is made by mounting the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 36 each converting the reflection light ray whose image is formed by the rod lens array 32 into an image signal, in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the light guide 31.

The rod lens array 32 and the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 36 are formed in a length corresponding to the width of the original 2.

When the MFP 1 having the image sensor unit 7 configured as described above reads the original 2, the image sensor unit 7 is moved to a reading start position of the original 2 in the image reading section S. The image sensor unit 7 moved to the reading start position sequentially turns on the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 g, 34 b, 34 u of the first light source 30 a and the second light source 30 b. The light rays from the first light source 30 a and the second light source 30 b enter through the first light entering surface 31 a and the second light entering surface 31 e of the light guide 31 respectively, and then uniformly exit through the light exiting surface 31 c. The light rays exiting from the light guide 31 are applied in a line shape to the surface of the original 2 over the main-scan direction. The applied light rays are reflected by the original 2 and then image-formed by the rod lens array 32 on the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 36 mounted on the sensor substrate 33. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 36 receive the imaged reflection light rays and convert them into image signals. The image sensor unit 7 converts the reflection light rays of all of the red R, green G, blue B, umber U and ends the reading operation of one scan line along the main-scan direction.

Subsequently, the image sensor unit 7 is moved in the sub-scan direction by one scan line. The image sensor unit 7 performs the reading operation for one scan line as in the foregoing.

The image sensor unit 7 repeats the movement by one scan line and the reading operation for one line as described above and thereby can read the whole original 2.

The image signals converted by the image sensor unit 7 are subjected to image processing as necessary in the signal processing unit 12 and then stored as image data, with which the reading of the whole original 2 placed on the platen glass 5 is completed.

Next, the configuration of uniformly reflecting the light ray from each of the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 g, 34 b, 34 u will be described referring to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the light guide 31. Here, the light emitting elements 34 b, 34 r among the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 g, 34 b, 34 u forming the light source 30 will be described as representatives for easy description. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the light emitting element 34 r is arranged as the first light source 30 a near the first light entering surface 31 a and the light emitting element 34 b is arranged as the second light source 30 b near the second light entering surface 31 e. The wavelength of the light emitting element 34 b is about 435.8 nm and the wavelength of the light emitting element 34 r is about 700 nm. FIG. 2 is a graph indicating the relative relation between the wavelengths of the light emitting element 34 b and the light emitting element 34 r. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the light emitting element 34 b has a relatively short wavelength as compared to the light emitting element 34 r, and the light emitting element 34 r has a relatively long wavelength as compared to the light emitting element 34 b.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the first reflection part 35 a and the second reflection part 35 b are provided on the reflection surface 31 b of the light guide 31, and composed of dot patterns (light diffusion patterns) constituted of two kinds of dots 37 a and 37 b different in spectral reflectance. In particular, the dots 37 a, 37 b are formed by applying paints different in reflectance depending on the wavelength to the lower surface (reflection surface 31 b) of the light guide 31, for example, by silk-screen printing. Note that a region where the dots 37 a, 37 b are not formed remains as the material of the light guide 31 (transparent).

FIG. 3 is a graph indicating the characteristics of the spectral reflectances of the dots 37 a, 37 b. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the dot 37 a has a characteristic that its reflectance to a light ray with a long wavelength is high as compared to the dot 37 b. On the other hand, the dot 37 b has a characteristic that its reflectance to a light ray with a short wavelength is high as compared to the dot 37 a. In other words, the dot 37 a has a high reflectance to the light ray emitted from the light emitting element 34 r and a low reflectance to the light ray emitted from the light emitting element 34 b. On the other hand, the dot 37 b has a high reflectance to the light ray emitted from the light emitting element 34 b and a low reflectance to the light ray emitted from the light emitting element 34 r. Concretely, the dot patterns are formed by printing the dots 37 a with a paint of a red R-base color and printing the dots 37 b with a paint of a blue B-base color.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the reflection part 35 on the reflection surface 31 b of the light guide 31 as seen from an arrow direction illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the dots 37 a, 37 b constituting the first reflection part 35 a and the second reflection part 35 b are different in distribution density in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 31. Concretely, the dots 37 a are formed such that the distribution density is lower on the first light entering surface 31 a side and gradually increases toward the second light entering surface 31 e. On the other hand, the dots 37 b are formed such that the distribution density is lower on the second light entering surface 31 e side and gradually increases toward the first light entering surface 31 a.

In other words, the dots 37 a, 37 b are configured such that they are arranged at a low density at a portion close to the light entering surface and at a high density at a portion distant from the light entering surface depending on the distance from the light entering surface (the first light entering surface 31 a, the second light entering surface 31 e).

FIG. 5 is a graph indicating the position in the longitudinal direction of the reflection surface 31 b on the horizontal axis and the distribution densities of the dots 37 a, 37 b formed on the reflection surface 31 b on the vertical axis. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the distribution densities vary such that the distribution density of the dots 37 a increases toward the second light entering surface 31 e and the distribution density of the dots 37 b increases toward the first light entering surface 31 a. Note that the distribution densities of the dots 37 a, 37 b are not always symmetrical about a middle in the longitudinal direction of the reflection surface 31 b, but may differ depending on the reflectances of the dots 37 a, 37 b to the wavelengths.

By the light guide 31 configured as described above, the light ray from the light emitting element 34 r arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a is reflected and diffused by the dots 37 a, and the light ray from the light emitting element 34 b arranged near the second light entering surface 31 e is reflected and diffused by the dots 37 b. Further, the dots 37 a, 37 b are formed such that the distribution density increases as the dots 37 a or 37 b are more distant from the light emitting element emitting the light ray, to which the dots 37 a or 37 b have a higher reflectance, among the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 b. Concretely, the dots 37 a having a higher reflectance to the light ray from the light emitting element 34 r increase in distribution density as the dots 37 a are more distant from the light emitting element 34 r. Accordingly, the reflection surface 31 b can reflect and diffuse, even at a position distant from the light emitting element 34 r which the light ray from the light emitting element 34 r hardly reaches, the light ray in an amount nearly equal to that at the position close to the light emitting element 34 r, and therefore can make the light ray from the light emitting element 34 r uniformly exit over the longitudinal direction of the light guide 31.

On the other hand, the dots 37 b having a higher reflectance to the light ray from the light emitting element 34 b increase in distribution density as the dots 37 b are more distant from the light emitting element 34 b. Accordingly, the reflection surface 31 b can reflect and diffuse, even at a position distant from the light emitting element 34 b which the light ray from the light emitting element 34 b hardly reaches, the light ray in an amount nearly equal to that at the position close to the light emitting element 34 b, and therefore can make the light ray from the light emitting element 34 b uniformly exit over the longitudinal direction of the light guide 31.

The configuration in this embodiment is that a light emitting element is arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a that is one of the light entering surfaces and a light emitting element having a different wavelength is arranged near the second light entering surface 31 b that is the other of the light entering surfaces, and the dots 37 a, 37 b having reflectances corresponding to the respective emission wavelengths are formed on the reflection surface 31 b.

Therefore, even when the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 b are arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a and the second light entering surface 31 e of the light guide 31 respectively, the distribution densities of the dots 37 a, 37 b different in spectral reflectance constituting the first reflection part 35 a and the second reflection part 35 b are varied, thereby making it possible to make the reflectances and the diffusibilities at portions close to the light emitting elements 34 r, 34 b low and gradually increase the reflectances and the diffusibilities toward far points. Therefore, even when the light emitting elements are increased in number, the light emitting elements can be arranged without increasing the size of the light guide 31, and the light rays exiting from the light guide 31 can be made uniform in illuminance.

Next, the case where a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged near each of the first light entering surface 31 a and the second light entering surface 31 e will be described referring to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration that light emitting elements 34 u, 34 ir as the first light source 30 a are arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a and light emitting elements 34 g, 34 uv as the second light source 30 b are arranged near the second light entering surface 31 e, in addition to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. The other configuration is the same as that in FIG. 1 and the description thereof is omitted.

The light emitting element 34 uv illustrated in FIG. 6 emits a light ray with an ultraviolet UV emission wavelength, and the light emitting element 34 ir emits a light ray with a near-infrared IR emission wavelength. The reason why the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 ir are arranged is that when the original 2 is, for example, a bill or valuable stock certificate, the light ray with the ultraviolet UV emission wavelength and the light ray of the near-infrared IR emission wavelength illuminate the original 2 in order to read invisible ink printed on the original 2 for the purpose of security. Note that any one of the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 ir may be arranged depending on the invisible ink.

FIG. 7 is a graph indicating the relative relation among the emission wavelengths of the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g, 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the emission wavelengths increase in the order of the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g, 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir. The light emitting elements 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a emit light rays on the relatively long wavelength side as compared to the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g arranged near the second light entering surface 31 e. On the other hand, the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g arranged near the second light entering surface 31 e emit light rays on the relatively short wavelength side as compared to the light emitting elements 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a.

FIG. 7 also illustrates spectral reflectance characteristics of the dots 37 a, 37 b formed on the reflection face 31 b of the light guide 31. The dot 37 a has a high reflectance to the light rays emitted from the light emitting elements 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir classified to the long wavelength side. On the other hand, the dot 37 b has a high reflectance to the light rays emitted from the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g classified to the short wavelength side. Accordingly, forming the dots 37 a such that the distribution density increases as the dots 37 a are more distant from the light emitting elements 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir as illustrated in FIG. 5 enables the light rays from the light emitting elements 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir to exit uniformly over the longitudinal direction of the light guide 31. Similarly, forming the dots 37 b such that the distribution density increases as the dots 37 b are more distant from the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g enables the light rays from the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g to exit uniformly over the longitudinal direction of the light guide 31.

The configuration in this embodiment is made such that the light emitting elements on the long wavelength side are arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a that is one of the light entering surfaces and the light emitting elements on the short wavelength side are arranged near the second light entering surface 31 e that is the other of the light entering surfaces, and the dots 37 a, 37 b having reflectances corresponding to regions of the respective emission wavelengths are formed on the reflection surface 31 b.

Therefore, even when a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged near each of the first light entering surface 31 a and the second light entering surface 31 e of the light guide 31, the distribution densities of the dots 37 a, 37 b different in spectral reflectance constituting the first reflection part 35 a and the second reflection part 35 b are varied, thereby making it possible to make the reflectances and the diffusibilities at portions close to the light emitting elements 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir and close to the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g low and gradually increase the reflectances and the diffusibilities toward far points. Therefore, even when the light emitting elements are increased in number, the plurality of light emitting elements can be arranged without increasing the size of the light guide 31, and the light rays exiting from the light guide 31 can be made uniform in illuminance.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been explained using the above-described embodiment, but the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment. The present invention may be modified in the scope of the present invention.

For example, the light guide 31 in the case where two kinds of dots 37 a, 37 b different in spectral reflectance are formed has been described in the above-described embodiment, but is not limited to this case and may be configured such that two or more kinds of dots are formed.

Further, the reflection part in the case where the dot pattern is formed has been described in the above-described embodiment, but is not limited to this case. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of another reflection part 40 on the reflection surface 31 b of the light guide 31 as seen in the same direction as that of FIG. 4, in which rectangular parts 41 a, 41 b in a strobe shape in place of the dots are formed as the other reflection part 40. The rectangular parts 41 a illustrated in FIG. 8 constitute a first reflection part 40 a and have a high reflectance with respect to the emission wavelength of the light emitting element arranged near the first light entering surface 31 a, and increase in area toward the second light entering surface 31 e. On the other hand, the rectangular parts 41 b illustrated in FIG. 8 constitute a second reflection part 40 b and have a high reflectance with respect to the emission wavelength of the light emitting element arranged near the second light entering surface 31 e, and increase in area toward the first light entering surface 31 a.

As describe above, the shapes of the reflection parts are not limited and the areas of the reflection parts are varied to present the same effects as those in the above-described embodiment. Note that the areas of the rectangular parts 41 a, 41 b are not always symmetrical about a middle in the longitudinal direction of the reflection surface 31 b, but may differ depending on the reflectances of the rectangular parts 41 a, 41 b to the emission wavelengths.

Further, the case of using the light emitting elements 34 uv, 34 b, 34 g, 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir has been described in the above-described embodiment, but the configuration is not limited to this case. Any unnecessary light emitting element may be omitted or another light emitting element corresponding to a color which is desired to be enhanced in color reproducibility may be added.

Further, the light source 30 (the first light source 30 a and the second light source 30 b) may have a light emitting element having the same emission wavelength added thereto or may be composed of a plurality of light emitting elements having the same wavelength.

Note that, for example, the light emitting elements having the same (or almost the same) emission wavelength added for increasing the light amount need to be arranged on any one of the first light source 30 a and the second light source 30 b. The reason why is as follows. In the case where the light emitting elements having the same (or almost the same) emission wavelength are arranged in both the first light source 30 a and the second light source 30 b, dot patterns composed of the same dots 37 a, 37 b having the same spectral reflectance are provided in the first reflection part 35 a and the second reflection part 35 b.

For this reason, when the light rays with the same emission wavelength (same color) are radiated from both the first light source 30 a and the second light source 30 b, the light rays from the light emitting elements are reflected and diffused by both the first reflection part 35 a and the second reflection part 35 b. This makes the illuminances of the light rays exiting from the light guide non-uniform.

Further, the dots 37 a, 37 b in the case where they are formed by silk-screen printing has been described in the above-described embodiment, but may be formed by another method such as direct application of the dots 37 a, 37 b.

Further, the light emitting elements 34 u, 34 r, 34 ir emitting light rays with wavelengths equal to or longer than the emission wavelength of the light emitting element 34 u are arranged near at the first light entering surface 31 a and the light emitting elements 34 g, 34 b, 34 uv emitting light rays with wavelengths equal to or shorter than the emission wavelength of the light emitting element 34 g are arranged near the second light entering surface 31 e in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. In short, the light emitting elements are classified to the long wavelength side and the short wavelength side with the light emitting element 34 u and the light emitting element 34 g as a boundary, but the classification is not limited to this case. The light emitting elements may be classified at any position, for example, while setting the boundary at the light emitting element 34 r and the light emitting element 34 u or setting the boundary at the light emitting element 34 g and the light emitting element 34 b.

According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the number of light emitting elements emitting light rays with a desired emission wavelength without increasing the size of the light guide and to make uniform the illuminance of the light ray exiting from the light guide toward an illuminated object.

It should be noted that the above embodiments merely illustrate concrete examples of implementing the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not to be construed in a restrictive manner by these embodiments. That is, the present invention may be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical spirit or main features thereof.

The present invention is effectively usable for an image sensor unit and an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus (for example, an image scanner, a facsimile, a copying machine, a multifunctional machine and the like) to which the image sensor unit is applied. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An image sensor unit, comprising: a light guide reflecting light rays from a first light source and a second light source arranged near light entering surfaces at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates an illuminated object; an imaging element forming an image of a reflection light ray from the illuminated object; and a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receiving the reflection light ray whose image is formed by said imaging element is mounted, wherein said first light source is composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein said second light source is a light source different in emission wavelength from said first light source and composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the reflection surface provided at a surface opposing the light exiting surface is provided with a first reflection part and a second reflection part, wherein the first reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in said first light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to said first light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which said first light source is arranged, and wherein the second reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in said second light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to said second light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which said second light source is arranged.
 2. The image sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting elements are classified into a light emitting element on a relatively long wavelength side and a light emitting element on a relatively short wavelength side, and disposed in said first light source and said second light source.
 3. The image sensor unit according to claim 2, wherein when the light emitting element on the relatively long wavelength side is disposed in said first light source and the light emitting element on the relatively short wavelength side is disposed in said second light source, the first reflection part has a reflectance to an emission wavelength on the long wavelength side higher than a reflectance to an emission wavelength on the short wavelength side, and the second reflection part has a reflectance to the emission wavelength on the short wavelength side higher than a reflectance to the emission wavelength on the long wavelength side.
 4. The image sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the first reflection part and the second reflection part is composed of a light diffusion pattern, and wherein a distribution density of the light diffusion pattern varies according to a distance from each of the first reflection part and the second reflection part.
 5. The image sensor unit according to claim 4, wherein the light diffusion pattern is formed by applying a paint on the reflection surface.
 6. An image reading apparatus, comprising: an image sensor unit; and an image reading section for reading a reflection light ray from an illuminated object while relatively moving said image sensor unit and the illuminated object, wherein said image sensor unit comprises: a light guide reflecting light rays from a first light source and a second light source arranged near light entering surfaces at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates the illuminated object; an imaging element forming an image of a reflection light ray from the illuminated object; and a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receiving the reflection light ray whose image is formed by said imaging element is mounted, wherein said first light source is composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein said second light source is a light source different in emission wavelength from said first light source and composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the reflection surface provided at a surface opposing the light exiting surface is provided with a first reflection part and a second reflection part, wherein the first reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in said first light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to said first light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which said first light source is arranged, and wherein the second reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in said second light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to said second light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which said second light source is arranged.
 7. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image sensor unit; an image reading section for reading a reflection light ray from an illuminated object while relatively moving said image sensor unit and the illuminated object; and an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein said image sensor unit comprises: a light guide reflecting light rays from a first light source and a second light source arranged near light entering surfaces at both ends thereof, by a reflection surface to make the light rays exit through a light exiting surface and illuminates the illuminated object; an imaging element forming an image of a reflection light ray from the illuminated object; and a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receiving the reflection light ray whose image is formed by said imaging element is mounted, wherein said first light source is composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein said second light source is a light source different in emission wavelength from said first light source and composed of one or a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the reflection surface provided at a surface opposing the light exiting surface is provided with a first reflection part and a second reflection part, wherein the first reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in said first light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to said first light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which said first light source is arranged, and wherein the second reflection part has a high spectral reflectance with respect to an emission wavelength from the light emitting element provided in said second light source, and has a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface arranged opposite to said second light source higher than a reflectance on a side of the light entering surface near which said second light source is arranged. 